Coca Cola Chicken recipe

Sweet, savory, and irresistibly sticky—Coca-Cola chicken is made easily in one pan.

Crispy chicken thighs are slow-cooked in a sticky-sweet cola sauce made with pantry ingredients and served over veggies or rice.

Flavor: Fried chicken in Coca-Cola creates a sweet, savory, and caramelized glaze that tenderizes and infuses the meat with flavor.
Difficulty: Cook the chicken and the sauce in a single pot for easy cleanup.
Prep Note: Serve Coca-Cola chicken from a crock pot with a side of rice so guests can help themselves.

chicken , oregano , worcestershire sauce , mustard powder , oil , ketchup , garlic , onion , brown sugar , salt and pepper with labels to make Coca Cola Chicken

What’s in Coca-Cola Chicken?

Chicken: This recipe uses chicken thighs because they make perfect single portions, but skin-on breasts, drumsticks, and chicken wings will all work perfectly.

Coca-Cola Sauce: Any cola product (diet, Dr. Pepper, or root beer) works in this recipe, no need to buy the name brand.

Variations

Short on time? Use frozen chicken meatballs instead. Just toss them in at Step 2. Perfect as an appetizer.
Make a traditional Chinese version of Coca-Cola chicken, replacing the Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce and the dry mustard for ground ginger.
Ketchup can be swapped out for BBQ sauce or homemade chili sauce for a spicy kick.

adding coca cola to ingredients to make sauce for Coca Cola Chicken

pan full of Coca Cola Chicken and a spoon with sauce

How to Make Coca-Cola Chicken

Brown seasoned chicken.
Whisk remaining ingredients (full recipe below) and pour over the chicken.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer.
Serve with rice or veggies.

close up of Coca Cola Chicken in the pan

Storing Leftovers

Keep leftover Coca-Cola chicken in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat chicken with sauce on medium-low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave. Freeze portions in zippered bags for up to one month and thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Chop up leftovers with extra rice or veggies and make a hearty wrap for school or work, or mix leftovers into an Asian slaw for a light and tangy salad.

Sticky Chicken Favorites

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Coca Cola Chicken

This Coca-Cola chicken is a simple, one-pan meal with tender, juicy chicken simmered in a sweet and savory sauce for a deliciously sticky glaze.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

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Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken skin side down and cook just until browned on each side (about 5 minutes). Drain any excess fat.
Combine onions, cola, ketchup, garlic, worcesterchire sauce, brown sugar, oregano, dry mustard powder in a small bowl. Pour over the chicken and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Simmer 15 minutes.
Remove lid, and simmer an additional 25 to 30 minutes turning chicken occasionally until chicken is cooked through and has reached 165°F.
Serve with rice and steamed veggies.

Note: If you’d like a thicker sauce, once the chicken is cooked, remove from the pan and set aside. Make a slurry of ⅓ cup water and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Bring sauce to a boil and while whisking, pour in a bit of the slurry at a time to reach desired consistency (you may not need all of it). Allow to boil 1 minute and toss with chicken.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Chicken, Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

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